INDIA: Two Italian Marines charged with killing two fishermen off the coast of India are set to return after spending some time with their families in Italy for the holiday season

Record ID: 1374635

  • Title: INDIA: Two Italian Marines charged with killing two fishermen off the coast of India are set to return after spending some time with their families in Italy for the holiday season
  • Date: 3rd January 2013
  • Summary: KOCHI, KERALA, INDIA (JANUARY 03, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) COUNSEL FOR THE PETITIONERS, ADVOCATE P. VIJAY BHANU ARRIVING TO INTERACT WITH MEDIAPERSONS (SOUNDBITE) (English) COUNSEL FOR THE PETITIONERS, ADVOCATE P. VIJAY BHANU, SAYING: "They are coming back. The Italian government has honoured its promise." UNKNOWN LOCATION, KERALA, INDIA (FILE- FEBRUARY 2012) (ORIGINALLY 4: 3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) ITALIAN MARINES BEING ESCORTED BY POLICE OFFICIALS ITALIAN MARINES WALKING ITALIAN MARINES BEING TAKEN INSIDE THE POLICE VEHICLE ITALIAN MARINES SITTING IN THE POLICE VEHICLE POLICE VEHICLE LEAVING ITALIAN MERCHANT VESSEL ENRICA LEXIE NAPOLI SAILING IN THE SEA 'ENRICA LEXIE NAPOLI' WRITTEN ON THE HULK OF THE VESSEL KOCHI, KERALA, INDIA (JANUARY 03, 2013) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (Malayalam) COUNSEL FOR THE PETITIONERS, ADVOCATE P. VIJAY BHANU, SAYING: "Just now we have received information from the Italian government that tonight at 9:30 the accused Marines will leave for India and reach tomorrow by 8:30 to Kochi." BHANU LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 18th January 2013 18:59
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVACY44AY9FYWUYOQJM9M7RVGT60
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: The two Italian Marines charged with killing two fishermen off the coast of India are set to return after spending some time with their families in Italy for the holiday season, a lawyer of the Kerala High court said on Thursday (January 03).
    The two Italian sailors, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, members of a military security team protecting the cargo ship Enrica Lexie from pirate attacks, shot the fishermen they say they mistook for pirates off the Kerala coast in February, 2012, sparking a diplomatic row between New Delhi and Rome.

    "They are coming back. The Italian government has honoured it's promise," said P. Vijay Bhanu, advocate to the petitioner.
    Latorre and Girone are out on bail in the Indian state but not allowed to leave the country. They will be required to hand over 60 million rupees (676,200 pounds) as a bank guarantee to the court before leaving.
    The sailors, awaiting trial in New Delhi's Supreme Court in connection with the shooting, were expected to report back to India on January 10.
    The Kerala state government opposed the sailors' request, suspecting Italy of trying to smuggle the men out of India and feared that the sailors may not return.

    "Just now we have received information from the Italian government that tonight at 9:30 the accused Marines will leave for India and reach tomorrow by 8:30 to Kochi," Bhanu added.
    Italy wants the Supreme Court to rule that the shooting took place in international waters, outside India's jurisdiction, allowing the marines to be tried in Rome.
    Indian authorities accuse the sailors of killing unarmed fishermen in a "contiguous zone" where Indian law applies.
    While visiting the marines in Kerala last month, Italy's Defence Minister, Giampaolo Di Paolo, pinned his hopes on India allowing the men home for Christmas, saying "nobody more than India knows the values of festivities."
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
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